The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1887-07-26
PROCLAMATION OF TYRANNY.

The whole of Ireland has been proclaimed
under the operation of the crimes act. BY the
first proclamation the Protestant county of
Antrim was excepted from the law, but it has
now been decided to include that thus
bracing the entire country. This act of tyr
amy was consummated by the stroke OF a
pen. The mere signature of the Marquis of
Londonderry, Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, af
fixed to a proclamation decided upon by the
Privy Council places the whole of Ireland
outside the protection of the common law. It
is proclamation of tyranny and injustice
practical declaration of war by a powerful
government against class OF patient and
long-suffering citizens. With the announce
ment of the proclamation comes the statement
that the resident magistrates and county Of
fcers of Ireland have unanimously decided to
enforce the law with firmness. This is a mild
way of saying that it is to be enforced without
mercy. Ireland is to be pinned to the earth
by British bayonets and her people, demanding
justice and protesting against tyranny, are to
be throttled and silenced under the forms of
law. The crimes act is the elimination of
long series of arbitrary measures in Ireland
measures framed in utter disregard of justice
and of the rights, and interests, and welfare of
the Irish people. These measures enacted at
frequent intervals during long series Of
years have almost exhausted the resources of
tyrannical power, but the crimes act shows
that Britain has still held some weapons in
G. -
preston generally outlast the endurance of
the oppressed. In all this controversy the Irish
people have asked nothing unreasonable nor
anything that England ought not grant with
safety and honor, not to speak of justice and
humanity. Ireland does not ask for disunion
or separation. She asks for nothing incon-
sistent with the absolute supremacy of the
crown and the imperial Parliament and
the entire unity of the empire. She simply
asks for the reform of existing abuses and for
a measure of home rule that will make of Ire
land something better than hell on earth.
This is about what it has been for years past
and apparently what England proposes it
shall continue to be. The passage of the
crimes act and its extension by proclamation
over the whole of Ireland is a natural result
of this policy. Force begets resistance, and
each new measure of repression and coercion
has to be followed by stronger one. The
present government of Ireland is absolutely
despotic and irresponsible. All the rights
and privileges supposed to have been guaran-
teed by magma charta and other muniments
of rty are abolished or suspended. The
courts of England will sit for Irish
causes, and Irishmen can not be tried by
jury of their countrymen. The commits
sioners under the new law have unlimited
powers and may imprison every man, woman
and child in Ireland without charges filed or
reasons given. This policy of injustice can
not long endure nor permanently succeed. It
will defeat itself and in all probability the
reaction will begin very soon. The downfall
of the present Ministry cannot be long de-
layed and with the next appeal to the Eng
| lish people the cause of Irish home rule will
almost surely prevail.